What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "poetry?"
I recently came across a sign that said "Roses are red / Violets are blue / Poetry is hard / WINE." I chuckled for a second but then realized something: that sign made me sad. Sometimes it feels like there's an anti-poetry brigade out there, surreptitiously convincing people that poetry is boring, difficult, unworthy. Like you need wine to get you through it.
Poetry has a bad rap. It's not everyone's cup of tea and it certainly doesn't have to be, but I do wish more people would give it more of a chance. I've read many a poem that has rocked my world or hit me in unexpected and long-lasting ways. Like all literature, poetry has the ability to illuminate the world. Poetry has power.
April is Poetry Month, so here on OOM we'll be talking all things poetry all month long. We've brought you news about the National Student Poets Program and about Nick Cannon's poetry book, Neon Aliens Ate My Homework and Other Poems. We'll have more resources later this week, too.
But meanwhile, here's a great example of how poetry can be fun and completely accessible to kids. One of the best ways to get kids interested in it is to read it aloud...and make it fun! Nick Cannon does just that with this video for his poem "Talkin' Jazz." Enjoy!
